Method for optimizing the frequency of network topology parameter updates
First Claim
1. In a data communication network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by links to form communications paths between said nodes, each node capable of transmitting and storing network topology information at least about itself to one or more nodes in said network, a method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a path set-up request identifying nodes and links assigned to a communication path being established in the network;
updating network topology information within the node in response to the path set-up request to generate a locally updated set of said network topology information reflecting link and node characteristic changes caused within the network by the path set-up request;
receiving a globally updated set of said network topology information;
comparing said globally updated set to said locally updated set in order to generate a difference set of network topology information; and
analyzing said difference set in order to assign a reliability factor for characteristics of each node and each link in said network topology information, the reliability factor being indicative of the difference between said globally updated set and said locally updated set.
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Abstract
Accuracy of network topology information and efficient usage of available bandwidth when broadcasting topology updates are optimized in accordance with the principles of the present invention by collecting and utilizing locally known network usage information to update the network topology information between regular updates. This information is then used in establishing paths for end user communication through the network. It is further used to determine which network topology information is to be included in a subsequent update broadcast by the node. Additionally, it is used to tune adaptively the frequency with which updates are broadcast by the node.
14 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a data communication network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by links to form communications paths between said nodes, each node capable of transmitting and storing network topology information at least about itself to one or more nodes in said network, a method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a path set-up request identifying nodes and links assigned to a communication path being established in the network; updating network topology information within the node in response to the path set-up request to generate a locally updated set of said network topology information reflecting link and node characteristic changes caused within the network by the path set-up request; receiving a globally updated set of said network topology information; comparing said globally updated set to said locally updated set in order to generate a difference set of network topology information; and analyzing said difference set in order to assign a reliability factor for characteristics of each node and each link in said network topology information, the reliability factor being indicative of the difference between said globally updated set and said locally updated set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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4. In a data communication network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by links to form communications paths between said nodes, each node capable of transmitting and storing network topology information at least about itself to one or more nodes in said network, a method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a path set-up request identifying nodes and links assigned to a communication path being established in the network; updating network topology information within the node in response to the path set-up request to generate a locally updated set of said network topology information reflecting link and node characteristic changes caused within the network by the path set-up request; receiving a globally updated set of said network topology information; and comparing said globally updated set to said locally updated set in order to generate a reliability factor for characteristics of each node and each link in the set of said network topology information, the reliability factor being indicative of the difference between said globally updated set and said locally updated set. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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11. In a data communication network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by links to form communications paths between said nodes, each node capable of transmitting and storing network topology information at least about itself to one or more nodes in said network, a method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a path set-up request identifying nodes and links assigned to a communication path being established in the network; updating network topology information within the node in response to the path set-up request to generate a locally updated set of said network topology information reflecting link and node characteristic changes caused within the network by the path set-up request; monitoring a change for a characteristic of a node; classifying said node characteristic into one of at least two groups, each group representing a substantially similar node characteristic change observed in said monitoring step, one group representing a substantially different change from other groups in the at least two groups; and transmitting the network topology information to said nodes more frequently when the node characteristic is classified into the first group than when the node characteristic is classified in the second group. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification